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I am a photographer, a writer, a musician, an educator, and a former Soldier, among other things. My experiences have made me intensely aware of injustice and suffering, as well as immense beauty and joy, and I strive to communicate those things through my work.
While I have a very strong connection to nature, and much of my work emanates from that connection, I enjoy working with diverse subjects and continually seek to push the boundaries of my own self-expression.
On occasion, and schedule-permitting, I do book portrait sessions and weddings/events. I am a member of the Help Portrait community and a participating photographer in the Portraits of Love campaign. Additionally, I am a member of the visual peacemaker community at IGVP (International Guild of Visual Peacemakers), and I am purposefully committed to their Ethical Code, their values, and their vision.
IGVP Values: Servanthood
“We aim to serve 1) our photographic subjects, 2) one another in the peacemaking community, 3) humanity. We treat photographic subjects with respect, tell their story to the world, and document their life in honoring ways. We serve fellow visual peacemakers through our participation, and by sharing knowledge, creativity, and resources. We serve the audience of humanity by providing opportunities to broaden perspective and deepen compassion.”
I very much enjoy working with non-profit organizations that support important forward-thinking political, economical, health, civil and human rights, animal rights, veterans and women’s issues, and other principles of basic good. I have a strong interest in military arts, contemplative arts and education, and have studied Miksang contemplative photography with Jake Lorfing for the past three years. I am also very fortunate to study contemplative writing with Miriam Hall. For more information, contact me at photos [at] tifholmes [dot] com.
More about Engage: Daily Photo-Haiku Meditation
Inspired by Japanese Haiga, and Miksang — a form of contemplative photography based on the Shambhala and Dharma Art teachings of Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche — this project is rooted in perception. Form, color, texture, patterns, etc., all contribute to an initial understanding of an experience. Whether temporal or spiritual, the transference of this experience into haiku creates a powerful awareness that can be shared with others.
The purpose of this project is to promote and maintain a personal practice of mindfulness and whole-hearted living. Creating a single haiku and compelling image is at times a very feeble attempt to allow myself to be vulnerable and completely exposed to all of life’s joy and sorrow, happiness and suffering. It is a practice of compassion towards–and bridging the [mis]perceived gap between–myself and others, learning from and engaging with the world around me even [especially] when I might desperately wish to disengage and withdraw.
The first year of the project can be found at my old blog site here: http://tifholmesphotography.com/blog/. It includes entries from March 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012. Slowly, I will integrate it into the existing site. E-books of these first two volumes can be purchased for $4.99 each. Contact me for more information.
In March 2012, I moved the project here: http://tifholmes.com/engage where it continued for another year.
The Collaborative Photo-Haiku Project
A previous, currently inactive, similar project that was open to the public can be found here: http://tifholmesphotography.com/cphp/blog/.